Thursday, February 28, 2013

Whenever I run out of ideas for my kids, I check the calendar. Holidays provide days of boredom-busting fun. Making decorations takes up a few afternoons. Then a day to decorate. And after the holiday is over, an afternoon of taking down the decorations. That's a minimum of three no-brainer days. Sweet.

Yesterday we decided to make St. Patrick's Day decorations. I quickly consulted Pinterest and found a rainbow, leprechaun, and pot of gold that all seemed fun and easy. While my older son was at school, I set up our dining room with a plastic tablecloth. Then I gathered materials for our projects:

circles cut from a few sheets of yellow construction paper (TIP: If you have a circle punch for scrapbooking or card-making, it will make this part much easier. I used a 1.5" circle punch.)

glue stick

1. Paint a rainbow on the paper-plate half.
2. Use glue to secure cotton balls for the clouds; set aside to dry.
3. Use glue stick to sandwich two gold coins together, with the ribbon in between.
4. When the paint is dry, turn the rainbow over and secure the ribbons to the back with tape.

Leprechaun Faces

paper plate, 1 per leprechaun

orange, green, black, and yellow construction paper

google eyes (or black crayon or marker)

glue stick

1. For younger children, cut the pieces ahead of time; older children may cut their own. Use the paper plate as a guide for the size of the beard (orange paper) and the hat (green paper).
2. Use the scraps left from the orange paper to cut a mustache.
3. Use the hat as a guide to cut a strip from the black paper.
4. Cut a square from the yellow paper. Fold in half to cut out the inside, leaving a hollow square for the buckle.
5. Use glue stick to adhere all the pieces to the paper plate. If not using google eyes, draw the eyes with marker or crayon.

Pot O'Gold

black construction paper

circles cut from a few sheets of yellow construction paper (again, a circle punch helps)

glue stick

St. Patrick's Day stickers (optional)

1. For younger children, cut the pieces ahead of time; older children may cut their own. Cut a pot from the black paper, using the photo as a guide. Folding the paper in half helps to achieve a symmetrical shape.
2. Use glue stick to adhere gold coins to the top.
3. If desired, use St. Patrick's Day-themed stickers to decorate your pot of gold. I thought that would be fun; my kids were not interested.

Put them all together, and you have a cute scene to make any room more festive for March 17th.

I hope you have fun making these St. Patrick's Day crafts with your kids. As always, thanks for reading.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Did you make Curry in a Hurry last night? Or maybe something with a healthy amount of garlic? It tastes and smells so wonderful at dinner time, but the next morning? Not so much. The stale lingering smell of turmeric, cumin, garlic, and/or onions is anything but pleasant.

Never fear! You can freshen the scent of your home without resorting to chemical sprays or heavily scented candles. Simmer pots are a wonderful weapon against odors in your home.

Simmer pot with clementine, cloves, and vanilla.

They are fast and simple; just throw a few ingredients in a pot with water, and simmer. They are eco-friendly since there are no chemicals, and they utilize kitchen scraps. They are allergen-friendly; many people sneeze or get an itchy nose when exposed to scented candles and sprays. Simply tailor the ingredients to avoid any known allergens (for example, if someone in your home is allergic to nuts, do not use almond extract in your simmer pot). Plus, they are basically free. Just use items already in your pantry and refrigerator.

You may use whole fruit, roughly chopped fruit, or just the peels. This is a great use of those overripe goodies sitting in the fridge at the bottom of your fruit drawer.

Then choose one or more seasonings:

cinnamon sticks (or ground cinnamon)

whole cloves

nutmeg

star anise

bay leaves - citrus and bay leaves are a good pairing

rosemary (fresh or dried)

mint leaves

fresh ginger

vanilla extract

almond extract

a flavored-tea bag

The directions couldn't be easier:

Fill a saucepan halfway with water; add your fruit and seasonings.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.

Set a timer every 30 minutes or so as a reminder to add more water as necessary. It's also a good idea to put a sticky note on your door as a reminder to turn off the simmer pot if you leave.

Even one or two ingredients will smell wonderful. When I was in high school, my psychology class was held in the Home and Careers classroom. I remember one day, someone had burned a dish in an earlier class so my teacher kept a pot simmering with water and ground cinnamon. So simple, yet it worked so well to conquer the residual scent of burnt food. And now I keep seeing simmer pots everywhere. I think it's safe to say this trick is time-tested.

If you like using simmer pots, it's easy to keep the ingredients on hand. Start a freezer bag for apple skins and citrus peels. Freeze leftover juices and cider in an ice cube tray, then pop the cubes into the freezer bag as well. When you're ready to simmer, grab a handful of scraps from your freezer bag.

Do you have a garbage disposal? As a bonus, you can use your simmer-pot remnants to freshen your garbage disposal, too. The ingredients will be softened at this point, so just pour the contents of the pot down the drain and run your disposal.

What are your favorite simmer pot ingredients? Post a Comment and let us know.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Curry dishes are comfort food in our house. Before kids, when going out to eat was a regular occurrence, my ROCpoppa and I would often find ourselves at an Indian restaurant. These days, we make our own instead.

This particular curry is ready in the time it makes to simmer the rice. Quick and easy!

Picky eaters? No problem. Keep some of the chick peas out of the mix. On a segmented plate, scoop some cooked basmati rice, some chick peas, and then defrost some of the frozen green peas to add on the side along with some of the diced carrots (raw or cooked). Maybe some applesauce or a clementine, and dinner is served for the picky ones.

Love your slow cooker? Just follow the variation at the bottom.

You can adjust the heat of this recipe with the cayenne pepper. I usually add less than 1/8 teaspoon. Others would probably like a 1/4 teaspoon or more in there. Go for it, just not in my kitchen please.

1. In small pot, combine rice and broth. Bring to a boil; stir once. Cover and reduce heat; simmer 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand (covered) 5-10 minutes. Fluff with a fork when done.KIDS CAN HELP: Have kids measure rice and broth into a pot on the counter (NOT on the stove).

2. Meanwhile, in a large pot, heat cumin and mustard seeds over medium heat until they are fragrant and begin to pop, about 3 minutes. Add curry powder, turmeric, garam masala, ginger, and cayenne; heat 1 minute more.KIDS CAN HELP: Kids can measure the cumin and mustard seeds into the pot on the counter (NOT on the stove). Then they can measure the remaining spices and scoop into a prep bowl or measuring cup for the Head Chef.

3. Add oil, onion, celery, and carrots. Sauté until vegetables are tender, about 5-7 minutes.KIDS CAN HELP: If using frozen mirepoix in place of fresh veggies, kids can measure out 2 1/2 cups of the mixture.

4. Add chilies, tomatoes, potatoes, peas, and chick peas; raise heat to medium-high. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.KIDS CAN HELP: Have kids help you bring items from the pantry and freezer to the counter. Kids can also measure out the green peas and the frozen potatoes.

5. To serve, scoop some basmati rice onto individual dishes. Ladle the curried vegetables over the rice. If desired, garnish with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and a lemon wedge for squeezing on top. Enjoy!

There are approximately 288 calories per serving.

*TIP: If you are cooking for fewer than six, make the full amount anyway. Leftovers make a great lunch, or they can be frozen for future meals.

**TIP: For a speedier meal, check the frozen food section for a mirepoix blend (diced carrots, celery, and onions) to use instead of the fresh veggies. You'll want about 2 1/2 cups for this recipe.

CROCK POT/SLOW COOKER VARIATION:
1. Omit the oil and combine all other ingredients from cumin seeds through frozen potatoes in stoneware of your slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours.

Race: Are We So Different?
Daily through Sunday, April 28 during regular museum hoursRochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY
Explore the stories of race from biological, cultural, and historical points of view. This new exhibit features hands-on activities, 3-D animation, and more. Included with regular museum admission.

Thursday, February 21 is National Sticky Bun Day - bake a few batches, box them up, and help the kids deliver them to your neighbors.

Friday, February 22 is International World Thinking Day - this day started within the Girl Scouts, and it is a great excuse to visit the library and find out more about a foreign country. Ask each child to choose one country then find a book at the library. You could even tailor the dinner menu round the country or countries you researched.

Saturday, February 23 is National Banana Bread Day and Play Tennis Day - bake some Banana Bread, then work off the calories with a game of tennis. Can't get outside? Try balloon tennis, using paper plates as racquets.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

The other day, I made a big pot of minestrone for dinner and I was looking for something to go with it. We had some potatoes in the pantry, lots of leftover veggies in the fridge, plus some cheese leftover from a party. My brain immediately landed on twice-baked potatoes.

I don't know about you, but I think the best part about wedding food is when twice-baked potatoes are one of the sides. And besides weddings or banquets, how often does anyone really eat twice-baked potatoes? I plan on changing that and showing you just how easy they are to make. Even the kids can help! Plus, these potatoes are good for you. Yes, they are GOOD FOR YOU.

White potatoes have a bad reputation, thanks in part to the widespread availability of greasy french fries. On its own, a large white potato has zero grams of fat, zero grams of cholesterol, six grams of protein, six grams of dietary fiber, is a great source of vitamin C and potassium, plus it provides some iron, folate, vitamin B6, and niacin, as well as other vitamins and minerals. Go potatoes!

Thanks to The Sneaky Chef by Missy Chase Lapine, I am a big believer in hiding veggies whenever possible. Yes, I make a habit of regularly offering fresh fruits and veggies to my kids as well. But sometimes, you just have to make it a covert mission for their own good.

I've also added fat-free, protein-packed Greek yogurt instead of butter or sour cream. Plus the cheese used in these big boats of awesomeness is low-fat. All the calcium and protein you love about cheese...with less guilt. Yay.

2. After scrubbing potatoes, dry and use a fork to pierce potatoes several times. Place directly on top oven rack, and place a baking sheet on the bottom rack to catch any drips. Bake 60 minutes*. Remove potatoes and baking sheet from oven and set aside until potatoes are cool enough to handle.KIDS CAN HELP: Have kids scrub the potatoes at the sink.

3. Meanwhile, combine pureed veggies, yogurt, and 1 cup of cheese in a large mixing bowl.KIDS CAN HELP: Help kids measure ingredients into the mixing bowl. Using a large spoon, kids can mix everything together.

4. When potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to carefully scoop out the flesh into the mixing bowl, leaving a 1/4" shell to help keep the potato skins intact. Use a potato masher to combine everything in the mixing bowl.KIDS CAN HELP: Kids can carefully mash the mixture together with adult supervision. CAUTION: the potatoes will be hot; keep a close eye on the contents of the bowl and your little one's hands.

5. Set oven to broil on high. Carefully scoop the mashed potato mixture back into the shells, mounding as necessary. Place on baking sheet and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup of cheese.KIDS CAN HELP: Kids can sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese onto the potatoes.

6. Broil for 5-10 minutes (check often) until cheese is melted and just starting to turn golden brown. Enjoy!

Depending on the types of cheese used, each twice-baked potato half has approximately 224 calories.

*NOTE: If you are in a hurry, pierce the potatoes then place on a microwavable dish and microwave on high 5 minutes. Turn potatoes and microwave 5 more minutes. Use a pot holder to carefully move potatoes to top rack of oven (with baking sheet on bottom rack) and bake at 450 F for 30 minutes.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Yes, it's almost Valentine's Day. Chances are, if you are making crafts with your kids you are probably making hearts and cupids. But not our family. No. My boys wanted to make snowmen.

Since there is merely a sprinkling of snow left on the ground (no complaints), we made crafty snowpeople indoors. I found this idea through Pinterest on the JT Photography site.

Here is a look at the materials you will need.

MATERIALS FOR EACH SNOWPERSON:

Toilet paper tube

White paper, cut to 4 1/2" x 6"

Pipe cleaner, cut to 4"

2 pom poms

2 google eyes

Orange foam sheet or construction paper to cut nose (approximately 1" long and about 1/2" wide at the base)

Ribbon, cut to 12"

3 small buttons (or sequins)

Cotton balls

Paper plate or other base (other ideas: repurpose a shoe box, shirt box, or even a cereal box)

Glue stick, white craft glue, and large glue dots

Scissors

INSTRUCTIONS:

Apply glue stick to the edges of the paper, line up the toilet paper tube with one short edge, then roll to cover the tube with paper. You may need to add more glue stick to seal the edge. Use scissors to trim the top or bottom, if necessary.

Apply two glue dots to the top of your toilet paper tube - on opposite sides - and secure the pipecleaner for the ear muffs.

Adhere a pom pom on each side to cover the ends of the pipe cleaner. Some of each glue dot should still be exposed around the pipe cleaner, and the pom poms will stick to that.

Use glue dots to adhere two google eyes. Then use glue stick to adhere a nose. Next, lay the ribbon on your crafting space and place the tube in the center. Swipe some glue stick across the center of the tube and tie a double-knot with the ribbon, using the glue to secure it in place. Trim the ends of the ribbon with scissors, if necessary.

Secure three buttons onto your snowperson with glue stick.

Next cover a paper plate with craft glue.

Place the snowperson in the center, and add cotton balls around it to cover the plate.

We had so much fun making these yesterday, the boys are already asking to make them again today. I guess since it will be an early Spring, we should get all of the winter crafts in now.

I hope you have fun making some snow people. As always, thanks for reading.

Friday, February 1, 2013

What's going on in Rochester, NY this weekend? Before we get to that, today is National Freedom Day to commemorate when Abraham Lincoln signed the resolution that became the 13th Amendment, outlawing slavery. In unrelated news, it is also National Serpent Day, making it a good day to visit the python, rattlesnake, or one of the boas at the Seneca Park Zoo.

Sunday is the Super Bowl, and it is also National Cordova Ice Worm Day! On Ice Worm Day, the people of Cordova, Alaska celebrate the glacier-dwelling worm. Perhaps an ice-cream-spin on Worms in Dirt would be appropriate?

ONGOINGRace: Are We So Different?
Friday, February 1 - Sunday, April 28 during regular museum hoursRochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY
Explore the stories of race from biological, cultural, and historical points of view. This new exhibit features hands-on activities, 3-D animation, and more. Included with regular museum admission.

Game Night
Friday, February 1 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. (repeats on Fridays through June 14, 2013)ArtsROC, 3462 Monroe Avenue, Pittsford, NY
Kids ages 5-12 can enjoy movies, Wii, Xbox, Minecraft, tons of LEGOs, and a pizza party for $25 at ArtsROC. Call (585) 218-9125 or email info@artsroc.net for more information. Or click here to register.

Free Family Night
Friday, February 1 from 4:30 - 10:00 p.m.YMCA- Southeast, 111 East Jefferson Road, Pittsford, NY
The Adventure Center is open from 4:30-9 p.m. (remember your socks!), enjoy pizza in the Lobby at 5:45 p.m until it runs out ($1/slice), play in the Gym from 6-8 p.m., and swim in the pool from 7-10 p.m. Free and open to the community.

Fun Fridays
Friday, February 1 from 6 - 8 p.m.YMCA-Westside, 920 Elmgrove Road, Rochester, NY
Family gym games, inflatables, obstacle course, crafts, and family swimming. There is no fee for members; $10 per family for the community.

Bookfair, Concert, and Children's Activities
Saturday, February 2 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Barnes & Noble, 3349 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, NY
Enjoy performances from the students of Hochstein School of Music & Dance. Visit the children's area at 11 a.m. for Story Hour with Clifford the Big Red Dog; at 12 p.m. make a shaker at the Hochstein craft table; at 1:30 p.m. enjoy Story Hour with Peter & the Wolf. Purchases made in store or online can help support Hochstein.

Family Rhythm/Drumming Event
Saturday, February 2 from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.Rhythm Connect, 84 High Street, Fairport, NY
Each participant will choose from various drum and percussion instruments from around the world, as well as explore the "Percussion Paradise" room. Cost is $5 per family and includes one free shaker per family. Get a second free shaker per family when you bring canned goods for Perinton Food Shelf (items needed: canned chili, fruit cocktail, vegetables). Space is limited; register and make payment online (note: scroll to the bottom of the page to find this event and click on the green "Book" button).

Science Saturdays
Saturday, February 2, various demonstration times from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY
At 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. visit the Wildlife Defenders for an up-close look at live native and exotic species. At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. join Professor Len Ortenzi for "The Science of Sound" (cool demonstrations of sound waves). From 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. enjoy "Medicines & Achoo! I Mean You" to learn about our immune system and how doctors and scientists make this important part of our body work for us. Free with regular museum admission.

Crafty Kids Valentines
Saturday, February 2 from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.Walworth-Seely Public Library, 3600 Lorraine Drive, Walworth, NY
Stop in any time between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. They supply the materials, you bring the creativity. Ages 4 and up; no registration required.

Ski, snowshoe, or hike through the snow-covered village and nature center trails. The Nature Center trails are open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., while the Historic Village trails are open noon - 4 p.m. only. Call (585) 294-8262 to check trail conditions. Free for members, $5.50 for non-members. Ski rental is $10, snowshoe rental is $5; equipment available on first come, first served basis. Equipment rental is available at the Nature Center.

Meet Clifford the Big Red Dog and enjoy special readings in honor of his 50th birthday. Don't forget your camera! Included with regular museum admission.

SUNDAY

Family Fun Game Day
Sunday, February 3 from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.Rochester Public Library (Central Library), 115 South Avenue, Rochester, NY
Families are invited to come to the Children's Center of the Central Library to enjoy a variety of games for ages 3-11. This program is free, so bring the whole family.

Have a great weekend, I hope your Super Bowl team wins, and as always, thanks for reading.

About Me

ROCmomma is dedicated to finding fun things to do in the Rochester, NY area, awesome (but easy) craft projects for young kids, kid-friendly recipes, as well as tips for the rare date night or girls' night out.